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Nov 6, 2008 5:41 pm US/Eastern
UPMC Plans Hospital In Monroeville
MONROEVILLE (KDKA) ―
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UPMC plans to build a new hospital at the location of the former Palace Inn in Monroeville.
KDKA
If it doesn't have one already, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center should have its own zipcode.
UPMC's reach is enormous - from the Oakland campus to a transplantation institute in Palermo, Italy – 20 hospitals throughout Western Pennsylvania, and nearly 50,000 employees.
In Lawrenceville, the $7 billion non-profit is wrapping up construction on the 900,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Children's Hospital.
Now, the powerful healthcare provider is setting sights on Monroeville and the former Palace Inn property on Mosside Boulevard. That site would become UPMC East.
"Obviously, we're quite excited and we welcome them with obviously open arms - we're looking at all the benefits," says Monroeville mayor Greg Erosenko.
And according to municipal manager Marshall Bond the project is substantial, "$250 million in today's economy is an extraordinary commitment."
UPMC paid nearly $20 million for the hotel property and three adjoining parcels.
UPMC East would include: 120-beds, 96-medical/surgical units, six operating rooms and an 18-bay emergency department.
The complex also has a six-floor parking garage with 700-to-800-spaces. It would also mean 350 or more new jobs.
West Penn Hospital's Forbes Regional campus is located not far from the UPMC site but the municipal manager does not see that as a problem.
"Volume begets volume. So if we are emerging as a medical center for the region I think that's a good thing."
The proposed UPMC site already has sufficient infrastructure in place. The roadway will be widened and a traffic light added at no cost to the borough.
But because of UPMC's non-profit status, the borough will miss tax money on this property, but Marshal Bond says the negotiating is not over.
"There's community benefits agreements and there's community commitments that I know from Forbes and UPMC traditionally has done," Bond said.
UPMC spokesman Frank Racskiewicz did confirm that a full service hospital is in the planning stages, but that the planning is contingent on review by Monroeville borough and UPMC.
The Monroeville Planning Commission votes on November 19th, and council on December 9th. If approval is given demolition and construction could begin in January.
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